Written Answers Thursday 30 September 2010

Scottish Executive

Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns regarding the legality of section two of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill on the restriction of promotions in light of evidence from the Law Society of Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not have concerns over the legality, on grounds of proportionality or otherwise, of the measures in section two of the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill.

  A total off-trade discount ban on its own was modelled by the University of Sheffield, however this does not produce the same estimated level of benefits as a minimum price of 45p per unit.

Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has concerns regarding the opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi of the EU Court of Justice in Case 108/09 Ker-Optika of 15 June 2010 and proportionality under EU law in relation to (a) minimum unit pricing and (b) banning discounts.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government does not have concerns over the legality, on grounds of proportionality or otherwise, in relation to minimum pricing and banning discounts.

  The Scottish Government is aware of the opinion of Advocate-General Mengozzi of the EU Court of Justice in Case 108/09 Ker-Optika of 15 June 2010, has considered it and is watching developments in the case.

Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is of the submission by the Law Society of Scotland to the Health and Sport Committee on 15 September 2010 in relation to the implications for the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill of the opinion of Advocate General Mengozzi of the EU Court of Justice in Case 108/09 Ker-Optika.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36491 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  The Scottish Government notes that this is an opinion and it will be the judgement of the EU Court of Justice that specifies what the law is on this matter.

Asylum Seekers

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that dawn raids on asylum seeker families have ended.

Alex Neil: This government has made very clear its opposition to dawn raids and to the enforced removal and detention of children. The Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop, wrote to Damian Green, the UK Government’s Minister for Immigration, on 9 September 2010 asking for urgent clarification of the UK Government position and urging him not to renege on the promise to end child detention. We will continue to pursue this issue with UK Government ministers until they deliver on this commitment.

Asylum Seekers

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will enhance the assistance that it gives to asylum seekers and, if so, how.

Alex Neil: Asylum support (accommodation and cash support) for asylum seekers is a matter for the UK Border Agency. However, through the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Funding Stream the Scottish Government has provided £5.6 million for the period 2008-11 to improve the lives of minority ethnic and faith communities in Scotland including refugees and asylum seekers, migrant workers and gypsies/travellers.

  No decisions have been made regarding funding post 2011 which will be subject to the spending review.

Carers

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities have a designated person to attend to the needs of older carers.

Nicola Sturgeon: This is a matter for local authorities. The particular information requested is not held centrally. However, there are around 80 local area co-ordinator (LAC) posts in 26 local authority areas in Scotland. Most of these LACs support adults with disabilities and their families, which can include older carers. Some of the LACs have broadened out their role to support older people and other client groups. The carers strategy, Caring Together , published in July this year, contains a range of actions that take account of the needs of older carers.

Council Tax

Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the increase in each council tax band would be in each local authority if the funding for a council tax freeze was withdrawn.

John Swinney: The setting of the council tax is the responsibility of each local authority. However, the following table illustrates the increase in each council tax band for each local authority if the funding for the council tax freeze was withdrawn. It has been assumed that the council tax would have increased by the equivalent of the £70 million per annum provided by the Scottish Government over the period 2008-11.

  Increase in 2010-11 Council Tax Levels if the Council Tax Freeze Money was Withdrawn

  

 
Band A
Band B
Band C
Band D


Valuation Band Range
Under £27,000
£27,001 to £35,000
£35,001 to £45,000
£45,001 to £58,000


Ratio to Band D
6/9
7/9
8/9
1


Aberdeen City 
77.83 
90.80
103.77
116.74


Aberdeenshire
72.17 
84.20
96.23
108.26


Angus
67.81 
79.11
90.41
101.71


Argyll and Bute
74.51 
86.93
99.35
111.77


Clackmannanshire
72.61 
84.72
96.82
108.92


Dumfries and Galloway
66.35 
77.41
88.47
99.53


Dundee City 
76.60 
89.37
102.13
114.90


East Ayrshire
75.21 
87.74
100.28
112.81


East Dunbartonshire
72.23 
84.26
96.30
108.34


East Lothian
70.69 
82.47
94.26
106.04


East Renfrewshire
71.22 
83.09
94.96
106.83


Edinburgh, City of 
73.94 
86.27
98.59
110.91


Eilean Siar
64.77 
75.57
86.36
97.16


Falkirk
67.68 
78.96
90.24
101.52


Fife
70.72 
82.50
94.29
106.08


Glasgow City 
76.73 
89.51
102.30
115.09


Highland
73.56 
85.82
98.08
110.34


Inverclyde
75.78 
88.41
101.04
113.67


Midlothian
76.54 
89.29
102.05
114.80


Moray
71.79 
83.76
95.72
107.69


North Ayrshire
72.87 
85.01
97.16
109.30


North Lanarkshire
69.45 
81.03
92.60
104.18


Orkney Islands 
65.59 
76.53
87.46
98.39


Perth and Kinross
73.25 
85.45
97.66
109.87


Renfrewshire
73.67 
85.95
98.23
110.51


Scottish Borders
68.57 
79.99
91.42
102.85


Shetland Islands
66.61 
77.71
88.81
99.91


South Ayrshire
72.99 
85.16
97.32
109.49


South Lanarkshire
69.64 
81.25
92.86
104.46


Stirling
77.35 
90.24
103.13
116.02


West Dunbartonshire
73.56 
85.82
98.08
110.34


West Lothian
71.35 
83.24
95.13
107.02



  

 
Band E
Band F
Band G
Band H


Valuation Band Range
£58,001 to £80,000
£80,001 to £106,000
£106,001 to £212,000
£212,001 and over


Ratio to Band D
11/9
13/9
15/9
18/9


Aberdeen City 
142.68
168.62
194.56
233.48


Aberdeenshire
132.31
156.37
180.43
216.51


Angus
124.31
146.92
169.52
203.42


Argyll and Bute
136.61
161.44
186.28
223.54


Clackmannanshire
133.13
157.33
181.54
217.84


Dumfries and Galloway
121.65
143.76
165.88
199.06


Dundee City 
140.43
165.97
191.50
229.80


East Ayrshire
137.88
162.95
188.02
225.62


East Dunbartonshire
132.41
156.49
180.56
216.68


East Lothian
129.60
153.17
176.73
212.08


East Renfrewshire
130.58
154.32
178.06
213.67


Edinburgh, City of 
135.56
160.21
184.86
221.83


Eilean Siar
118.75
140.34
161.93
194.31


Falkirk
124.08
146.64
169.20
203.04


Fife
129.65
153.22
176.79
212.15


Glasgow City 
140.66
166.24
191.81
230.18


Highland
134.87
159.39
183.91
220.69


Inverclyde
138.92
164.18
189.44
227.33


Midlothian
140.32
165.83
191.34
229.61


Moray
131.62
155.55
179.48
215.38


North Ayrshire
133.59
157.88
182.17
218.60


North Lanarkshire
127.33
150.48
173.63
208.36


Orkney Islands 
120.25
142.12
163.98
196.78


Perth and Kinross
134.29
158.70
183.12
219.74


Renfrewshire
135.06
159.62
184.18
221.01


Scottish Borders
125.70
148.56
171.42
205.70


Shetland Islands
122.11
144.31
166.51
199.82


South Ayrshire
133.82
158.15
182.48
218.97


South Lanarkshire
127.68
150.89
174.10
208.92


Stirling
141.80
167.58
193.36
232.04


West Dunbartonshire
134.87
159.39
183.91
220.69


West Lothian
130.81
154.59
178.37
214.05

Crime

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes involving a bladed or pointed instrument were recorded in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: A table which includes crimes involving a bladed or pointed instrument recorded by the police in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by local authority area, has been prepared and a copy of this table will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 51710).

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial costs were associated with Creative Scotland’s move to its new Edinburgh office.

Fiona Hyslop: The final financial costs will not be settled until the move is complete and all contractual arrangements have been delivered. However, the planned move of Creative Scotland to new Edinburgh premises next year offers excellent value in current market conditions, as well as significant operational benefits.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the decision was made to relocate the Edinburgh office of Creative Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: Ministers approved the business case on 12 March 2010 for the proposed relocation of the Edinburgh office of Creative Scotland.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the decision to relocate the Edinburgh office of Creative Scotland was made by its current board or by the board of either the Scottish Arts Council or Scottish Screen.

Fiona Hyslop: Neither. The proposal to relocate Creative Scotland’s Edinburgh premises was made by Creative Scotland 2009 Limited and approved by Scottish ministers prior to the establishment of Creative Scotland .

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many redundancies (a) there have been to date and (b) are anticipated as a result of the winding up of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen and the establishment of Creative Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: (a) Eighteen members of Scottish Arts Council/Scottish Screen staff have been offered and taken voluntary early severance.

  (b) A further voluntary early severance scheme is currently underway which may result in further staff leaving, however, no specific figure is anticipated.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial costs were associated with the redundancies resulting from the winding up of the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen and the establishment of Creative Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: The costs associated with the 18 members of Scottish Arts Council/Scottish Screen staff who have been offered and taken voluntary early severance is £575,000. However, the projected salary savings associated with these cases is £693,000.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a decision has been taken on the grant allocation for Creative Scotland for 2010-11.

Fiona Hyslop: Yes. As provided for in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, on its establishment on 1 July this year, Creative Scotland inherited the balance of the grant-in-aid of allocations of its two predecessor bodies, the Scottish Arts Council and Scottish Screen. Creative Scotland was advised of this on 1 July 2010.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish a list of ongoing funded projects for Creative Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: Creative Scotland will be publishing a list of ongoing projects shortly. In the meantime, I have asked Creative Scotland to send this to you.

Data Security

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any new review of data protection protocols will include an assessment of existing databases and IT system procedures with a view to addressing existing flaws and areas of non-compliance.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government continues to be absolutely committed to compliance with the Data Protection Act of 1998 and this is reflected in the protocols and procedures we have put in place to ensure consistent and robust standards for the processing, security and integrity of data.

  We have an ongoing programme of system reviews and audits which should serve to ensure that databases and IT system procedures are compliant across core Scottish Government and its agencies. Our work on implementing information asset registers has also contributed to this task by recording details about the data held and information about the systems and databases in which it resides. Finally, we have ensured that each business area has an identified information asset owner responsible for ensuring that the content of databases and systems is compliant with regulations and that the appropriate standards are being applied to the handling and care of data.

Elections

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been consulted by the UK Government concerning the date for the next UK general election.

Jim Mather: The UK Government has not consulted the Scottish Government about the date of the next general election. The Scottish Government has made its views clear on the clash of dates with elections to the Scottish Parliament and would welcome discussion on how to avoid the difficulties such a clash would cause.

Enterprise

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reviews it has undertaken into the extent of innovation in the services sector.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of innovation as a key determinant of our long-term economic growth. Our focus is on alignment across the wider public sector to create a flexible, supportive business environment and we look to our enterprise agencies to deliver support for Scottish businesses, including those in the service sector.

  Following the launch of the Scottish Government’s Innovation for Scotland framework last year, our enterprise agencies have reviewed existing programmes to provide support to companies for the development of more competitive products and services. For example, Scottish Enterprise has created a new Innovation Support Service which is designed to help businesses use innovation as a driver of competitive advantage in areas such as service innovation and ICT-driven business model innovation to increase revenues and profitability. We will continue to work along with our enterprise agencies and other public bodies to provide support for the competitive growth of all Scottish businesses.

Environment

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reach the 2020 emissions reduction target of 42% and how it is measuring progress.

Stewart Stevenson: On 22 September 2010, the Scottish Government laid a draft Order before Parliament that will set annual emissions reduction targets for the years 2010 to 2022. These targets are designed to prescribe an emission trajectory which will achieve the 42% reduction required by 2020.

  The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires that the Scottish ministers also publish a Report on Proposals and Policies for meeting these targets. This report will be published together with a Low Carbon Economy Strategy before the end of the year. These documents will follow the publication of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan in October and together will detail the specific measures that the Scottish Government is putting in place to accelerate emissions reduction and provide strategic direction for the public and private sectors.

  This work will build on emissions reduction measures that the Scottish Government is already undertaking, including, for example:

  The Scottish Government launched the £10 million Saltire Prize and has tripled funding for micro and community generation with £13.5 million available per year.

  In 2009-10, we committed £15 million to a new Home Insulation Scheme targeting 100,000 homes in 10 local authority areas. This was increased to £25 million in 2010-11.

  Our £27million Climate Challenge Fund has helped around 250 communities reduce their emissions saving around 700,000 tonnes of CO2, the equivalent of taking 225,000 cars off Scotland’s roads.

  The Energy Saving Scotland boiler scrappage scheme supported over 4,600 householders with a £400 grant towards the replacement of a working G-rated boiler (for over 60s, this did not need to be in working order) with an energy efficient model certified under the Energy Saving Trust recommended scheme.

  With regard to measuring progress, the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 includes extensive provision for monitoring and reporting on progress towards achieving Scotland’s climate change targets:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange/scotlands-action/climatechangeact/targets.

  This includes a requirement that for each year in the period 2010-50, ministers provide Parliament with a report on annual targets, no later than October 31 in the second year after the target year, when emissions figures become available in the Disaggregated Greenhouse Gas Inventory for Scotland. In recognition of the time lag associated with these figures, the Act also requires that the Scottish ministers publish an assessment of the impact on emissions of budget proposals. The first of these carbon assessments was published in September 2009. To ensure external scrutiny, from 2011 ministers must request that the expert Committee on Climate Change report annually setting out its views on progress towards Scottish emissions reduction targets. Ministers are also required to publish a response to this report.

  More information about the Scottish Government’s action on climate change is available online at the following address:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/climatechange.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, including local authorities, it consulted during the period when it was considering extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all public bodies, businesses, organisations and individuals that made representations to it in support of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has regular ongoing contact about ferry services in Scotland with a range of public bodies, including local authorities, VisitScotland, Regional Transport Partnerships, Public Corporations such as David MacBrayne Ltd and Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, as well as individuals. Recently this has included engagement through working groups and some 45 events, including 33 public meetings, as part of the Scottish Ferries Review, as well as Road Equivalent Tariff stakeholder meetings.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the studies made of the social and economic impact on Scottish Islands other than the Western Isles of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36067 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the outcome of the assessment undertaken of the legality of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.

Stewart Stevenson: It is the Scottish Government’s view that the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme is compliant with EU law. This view is not affected by our recent decision to extend the RET pilot to spring 2012.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive to detail the outcome of the assessment made of the cost of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011 before a decision was made to extent the pilot by one year.

Stewart Stevenson: The estimated additional cost of extending the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot to spring 2012 is £6.5 million.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it began its consideration of an extension to the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles beyond spring 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: It would have been premature to end the pilot before the final evaluation study had been completed and fully considered. This decision was taken within the context of ongoing consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered extending the pilot of Road Equivalent Tariff fares on the ferry services to the Western Isles to cover additional ferry routes to islands other than the Western Isles.

Stewart Stevenson: The possible extension of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot has been under consideration since the pilot was initiated. The impacts of the current pilot scheme are being closely monitored to allow ministers to make informed decisions on a possible wider roll-out of RET once the final evaluation report is completed next year.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) Orkney Islands Council and (b) Shetland Islands Council regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a further 12 months prior to that decision being (i) taken and (ii) announced.

Stewart Stevenson: The decision to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff(RET) pilot was taken on the basis of consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has been made of the displacement of traffic from other island routes as a result of the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes.

Stewart Stevenson: The evaluation of the Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot will be completed in early 2011 and the final evaluation report will be published thereafter. Initial findings indicate that there has been no significant displacement of traffic as a result of RET. The interim evaluation report and other relevant documents are available on the Scottish Government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Transport/ferries-ports-canals/14342/TARIFF.

  The final report on the RET pilot will take into account all of the impacts of the scheme, including any possible displacement of traffic, as well as consideration of the social and economic impacts.

Ferry Services

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions took place with (a) VisitOrkney and (b) VisitShetland regarding its plan to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot on the Western Isles routes for a further 12 months prior to that decision being (i) taken and (ii) announced.

Stewart Stevenson: The decision to extend the Road Equivalent Tariff pilot was taken on the basis of consultation and engagement as set out in the answer to question S3W-36059 on 30 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the successful tender for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service will be announced and when the service will begin.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers are currently considering the tender and contract documents for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. When the documentation is finalised the timetable for the remaining stages of the procurement process will be made clear.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many companies that tendered for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service have been shortlisted.

Stewart Stevenson: There are four shortlisted bidders for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service tender.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with HM Revenue and Customs to ascertain that all companies tendering for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service are fully compliant with UK tax obligations.

Stewart Stevenson: We have had no discussions with HM Revenue and Customs with regard to companies tendering for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. However, a rigorous consideration of financial capacity and legal/regulatory compliance was carried out in respect of all companies who submitted a pre-qualification questionnaire. All four shortlisted companies successfully passed the assessment.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will be a condition of the tender for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service that the successful company must provide vessels compatible with the Dunoon linkspan.

Stewart Stevenson: The tender specification for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service has still to be finalised. It would be therefore be premature to discuss technical requirements or conditions contained within the tender. The tender specification will be publicly available when it is issued to bidders.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are (a) legislative, (b) financial or (c) administrative constraints impeding the immediate awarding of the contract for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) Under the terms of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2006, a contract for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service can only be awarded when the procurement process has been concluded. Various steps in that process have still to be completed.

  (b) There are no financial constraints in respect of the awarding of the contract for the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service.

  (c) Administratively, it would not be possible to award a contract immediately, since the procurement process has yet to be completed.

Forth Crossing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been given to the inclusion of a direct link to the M9 in the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Stewart Stevenson: The project plans provide an east and west link near Kirkliston.

Forth Crossing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis compensation will be provided to householders affected by the Forth Replacement Crossing project and what funds have been provided for this.

Stewart Stevenson: Advice on compensation is set out in Forth Replacement Crossing: Guidance on the Parliamentary Process, Compulsory Purchase Process and Compensation which was published on the Forth Replacement Crossing website on 16 July 2009.

  The Explanatory Notes accompanying the Bill advises at paragraph 272 that £10 million has been assessed by the district valuer as being necessary for land and compensation. This figure has been incorporated into the project’s forecast costs.

Forth Crossing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken to produce a ground survey report to determine the impact on households of the effects on the water table of work connected with the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

Stewart Stevenson: An assessment of the environmental impacts of the proposed scheme, during construction and operation, has been undertaken. Details of potential impacts, mitigation measures proposed to avoid or reduce impacts and any residual impacts are presented in the Environmental Statement, which can be found on the project website www.forthreplacementcrossing.info . These include groundwater and water environment impacts and highlighted a potential issue in the area around the South Queensferry junction.

  A further assessment of this potential issue, based on the findings of the Forth Replacement Crossing project ground investigations carried out in 2008, 2009 and 2010 together with ongoing groundwater monitoring has been undertaken. This assessment, reported in September 2010, concludes that no adverse effects in relation to groundwater changes are foreseen in this area.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to ensure the future of Stow College in light of the creation of the new City of Glasgow College.

Keith Brown: The funding of individual colleges is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) rather than ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the place of engineering and science specialities in the new City of Glasgow College.

Keith Brown: The responsibility to fund a coherent system of high quality college education lies with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), rather than with Ministers. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member to outline its approach to the future funding of colleges in Glasgow, including the new City of Glasgow College.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has approved the curriculum proposals for the City of Glasgow College and, if so, whether these have implications for other colleges.

Keith Brown: It is not a requirement that ministers approve the curriculum delivered by individual colleges. The activity for which colleges may be funded is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member to outline its proposals to fund the City of Glasgow College and any implications of these for other colleges.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what implications the merger between the central Glasgow colleges is likely to have on existing jobs within the colleges and what measures are being put in place to reduce any negative impact that might arise.

Keith Brown: Employment issues within colleges are a matter for the institution and its recognised trade unions, rather than ministers. We have been encouraged however to learn of the intention of the new City of Glasgow College that there should be no compulsory redundancies as a direct result of the merger.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital funding has been made, or is to be made available, to support the newly created City of Glasgow College.

Keith Brown: The provision of capital funding to individual colleges is a matter for the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) rather than ministers. The SFC will take a decision on capital funding in relation to the newly created City of Glasgow College once a business case has been received from the college.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it foresees for Stow College within the wider college sector in Glasgow.

Keith Brown: Stow College has made a significant contribution over many decades to the delivery of vocational education and training within Glasgow. The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has indicated that it wishes to ensure the continued viability of Stow College. I have asked the Chief Executive of the SFC to write to the member on this matter.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any engagement has taken place between the proposed City of Glasgow College and trade unions with a view to agreeing the harmonisation of pay and conditions and, if so, what outcomes have emerged.

Keith Brown: Negotiations on pay and conditions are a matter for individual colleges and their recognised trade unions. In giving approval to the merger, Ministers indicated their strong expectation that the City of Glasgow College will engage genuinely and productively with the trade unions with a view to resolving outstanding issues on harmonisation.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the role and remit of the Scottish Funding Council is in overseeing the implementation of the City of Glasgow College merger and when the first progress report on the college’s development will be made.

Keith Brown: In line with good practice, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) reviews the progress of all mergers. With specific regard to City of Glasgow College, Ministers have asked the SFC to work with the college to develop the exceptional leadership and management which ministers believe the college will require.

  Ministers have also asked the SFC to oversee the delivery of their expectations in relation to the avoidance of compulsory redundancies at the college; the establishment with the trade unions of mechanisms to identify and resolve conflicts; the delivery of the financial benefits of the merger; the production of a revised business case for the redevelopment of the college estate; and future partnerships and rationalisation involving other colleges.

  Ministers will expect to be regularly apprised by the SFC of progress on these issues, reflecting the close interest of ministers in the development of the new college.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the Scottish Funding Council is sufficiently independent of the merger decision process to enable it to report satisfactorily to the Parliament and ministers on the development and implementation of the new City of Glasgow College plan.

Keith Brown: The role of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is set out in statute. It includes the provision of advice to ministers, and the duty to secure the coherent provision of further and higher education. Ministers do not consider that the provision of advice on the merger proposal conflicts in any way with the SFC’s involvement in the implementation of the merger, or on the manner in which the SFC reports on progress.

  Ministers will expect to be regularly apprised by the SFC on progress, reflecting the close interest of ministers in the development of the new college.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, given an absence of citation of the evidence underpinning it, whether it is satisfied that the Scottish Funding Council’s consultation process on the Glasgow college merger was sufficiently transparent.

Keith Brown: I understand that the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) consulted on the future curriculum which might be delivered by Glasgow colleges. However, it was the Scottish Government, and the colleges themselves, which consulted on the merger proposal. I am unaware of any separate consultation on the merger undertaken by the SFC.

  In general, ministers would expect all public bodies to consult on significant propositions, and to apply their judgment on the organisations and individuals which might be involved.

Further and Higher Education

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what educational rationale supporting the proposed merger of the three central Glasgow colleges underpinned its advice to ministers to approve the merger.

Keith Brown: Ministers have now published the main evidence on which the decision to approve the merger was based. That evidence includes the educational rationale for the merger cited jointly by the three merging colleges, and the advice provided to ministers by the Scottish Funding Council which also highlighted the benefits of merger. The relevant documents can be viewed on the Scottish Government’s website at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/UniversitiesColleges/17135/glasgowmerger.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will continue cardiovascular screening for all young athletes.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are currently considering the future options for the cardiovascular assessment of young athletes programme with our partners in the project, the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Football Association.

Historic Sites

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote Roman history in Scotland.

Fiona Hyslop: Scottish ministers promote the Romans in Scotland in a variety of ways. Recognising the importance of the monuments themselves, through Historic Scotland, they have scheduled 238 Roman sites in Scotland as nationally important, 18 of which are currently in the care of Scottish Ministers and are open to the public and promoted as places to visit. Historic Scotland is also currently assessing all Roman forts and camps in Scotland to ensure that the most important sites are preserved for future generations and to celebrate Scotland’s unique Roman heritage.

  Following the recognition of the Antonine Wall by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 2008, Historic Scotland has worked with the five local authorities and other partners, including the Forestry Commission, British Waterways and the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments, to establish processes and projects aimed at delivering the actions listed in the World Heritage Site Management Plan. A number of projects and events have already taken place. In order to bring a consistent approach to the understanding and promotion of the wall the partners have commissioned (through Historic Scotland Interpretation Unit) an interpretation plan for the Antonine Wall which will be issued for comment in October 2010. It will include a plan for the partner organisations to provide interpretive and educational material relating to the Antonine Wall and the wider story of the Romans in Scotland both on and off site. It will be followed by plans to bring the same consistency to access and marketing all aimed at increasing access to and an understanding of the Romans in Scotland and within the Empire, making it relevant to visitors and local communities alike.

  Learning and Teaching Scotland’s "Scotland’s History" website hosts a section on Caledonians, Picts and Romans that gives access to extensive materials which promote Roman history in Scotland. These include background information, audio and video clips, games and teachers’ resource packs as well as links to the collections databases of National Museums of Scotland, Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, the Hunterian Museum and the British Museum. There are also direct links to other relevant websites such as Historic Scotland, the BBC’s Scotland’s History, Channel 4 History, Archaeology Scotland and the Antonine Guard.

  There are a wide variety of Roman heritage based events and educational activities which have taken place across Scotland in 2010 involving a number of key partners who share a common interest in the promotion of Roman heritage. Historic Scotland also recently provided grant support for the International Limes Congress, part of which included a tour for international experts of Roman sites in Scotland.

Historic Sites

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will draw up a list of possible sites for a National Roman Centre.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to create a National Roman Centre nor has it plans to commission the research that would be needed to support the development of such a list. The current priority is to work, through Historic Scotland, with local authorities and other partnership organisations to deliver the management plan outcomes agreed with UNESCO in 2008 for the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site.

  There are many important collections of Roman artefacts dispersed around Scotland in both national and local museums. Such collections already provide an invaluable resource for the study and interpretation of Roman Scotland.

Housing

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much rent was paid to Glasgow Housing Association in 2009-10 and how much of this was paid by means of housing benefit.

Alex Neil: I have asked Michael Cameron, Acting Chief Executive of the Scottish Housing Regulator to respond.

  His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Housing Regulator collects the amount of rent payable and the amount of Housing Benefit receivable for all Scottish Registered Social Landlords in its Annual Performance and Statistics Return (APSR). For the financial year 2009-10 Glasgow Housing Association reported gross rent receivable of £196.6 million and Housing Benefit receivable of £133.6 million. These figures are published at:

  http://www.esystems.scottishhousingregulator.gov.uk/register/reg_pub_dsp.search.

Housing

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest projection is of the number of homes available for rent or low-cost ownership in 2010-11.

Alex Neil: Projections of the number of homes to be built for rent or low-cost home ownership are not held centrally.

  The numbers of affordable homes that have already been completed are published quarterly on the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuild.

Housing

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many affordable homes for rent were completed in (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2009-10 in each local authority area.

Alex Neil: The numbers of housing association homes for social rent completed through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) are shown in Table 1 by local authority area. In 2006-07 the figure for Scotland was 3,318 and by 2009-10 this had increased to 5,121.

  Of these completions, 2,887 were new build in 2006-07 increasing to 4,749 in 2009-10. The breakdown of new build completions by local authority area is shown in Table 2.

  In addition to housing association homes for social rent, there were new homes completed by councils in this period. There were six council houses were completed in 2006-07 increasing to 343 in 2009-10. These figures are published at local authority level on the Scottish Government website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildLA

  Table 1: Number of Housing Association completions for Social Rent

  (Includes New Build, Rehabilitations and Off The Shelf Purchases)

  

 
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Aberdeen City
7
100
28
42


Aberdeenshire
77
62
136
322


Angus
41
108
75
68


Argyll and Bute
186
161
109
34


Clackmannanshire
35
3
3
51


Dumfries and Galloway
66
238
169
88


Dundee City
25
125
290
91


East Ayrshire
32
72
130
176


East Dunbartonshire
 
26
42
26


East Lothian
51
80
55
74


East Renfrewshire
37
 
20
89


Edinburgh, City of
395
469
259
659


Eilean Siar
24
44
72
43


Falkirk
65
 
39
81


Fife
254
245
352
168


Glasgow City
912
805
753
871


Highland
219
290
287
270


Inverclyde
8
77
85
284


Midlothian
36
14
49
56


Moray
87
90
95
87


North Ayrshire
64
125
72
84


North Lanarkshire
82
72
258
164


Orkney
32
27
25
24


Perth and Kinross
51
113
140
271


Renfrewshire
109
167
101
109


Scottish Borders, The
52
75
69
34


Shetland
42
15
33
64


South Ayrshire
68
62
68
207


South Lanarkshire
143
142
343
274


Stirling
3
125
118
64


West Dunbartonshire
51
48
51
81


West Lothian
64
85
103
165


Scotland
3,318
4,065
4,429
5,121



  Source: Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

  Table 2: Number of Housing Association completions for Social Rent (New Build Only)

  

 
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Aberdeen City
7
100
28
42


Aberdeenshire
77
62
136
322


Angus
40
108
75
68


Argyll and Bute
59
104
109
27


Clackmannanshire
34
 
1
46


Dumfries and Galloway
63
238
154
88


Dundee City
 
110
278
91


East Ayrshire
30
72
125
176


East Dunbartonshire
 
26
42
26


East Lothian
51
80
42
71


East Renfrewshire
37
 
20
89


Edinburgh, City of
382
462
208
419


Eilean Siar
21
41
66
39


Falkirk
61
 
31
65


Fife
242
201
295
154


Glasgow City
821
731
689
850


Highland
178
277
265
263


Inverclyde
8
42
85
283


Midlothian
16
12
38
10


Moray
34
90
39
82


North Ayrshire
64
125
66
84


North Lanarkshire
82
62
226
164


Orkney
32
27
25
24


Perth and Kinross
46
113
131
271


Renfrewshire
98
114
80
109


Scottish Borders, The
46
67
69
34


Shetland
33
12
31
64


South Ayrshire
68
62
42
207


South Lanarkshire
142
131
229
274


Stirling
 
124
118
64


West Dunbartonshire
51
48
51
78


West Lothian
64
85
103
165


Scotland
2,887
3,726
3,897
4,749



  Source: Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

Housing

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average number of affordable homes for rent completed by local authorities was in (a) 1999-2000, (b) 2000-01, (c) 2001-02, (d) 2002-03, (e) 2003-04, (f) 2004-05, (g) 2005-06, (h) 2006-07, (i) 2007-08, (j) 2008-09 and (k) 2009-10.

Alex Neil: The number of new homes completed by local authorities is published quarterly by the Scottish Government. A time series back to 1996-97 is accessible through the following page of the Scottish Government’s website:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuildLA.

  These homes are considered affordable and are built for social rent.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the 8,092 units completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme in 2009-10 were for sale.

Alex Neil: The number of housing units completed in 2009-10 under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme which were intended for sale (either outright or in part) was 2,568.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many houses sold under the Open Market Shared Equity Scheme in 2009 cost (a) less than £80,000, (b) between £80,000 and £120,000 and (c) over £120,000.

Alex Neil: In 2009-10 there were 1,459 houses sold under the Open Market Shared Equity Pilot. Of these 274 properties sold for less than £80,000, 942 properties sold between £80,000 and £120,000, and 243 sold for over £120,000.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35785 by Alex Neil on 19 August 2010, what expertise the Scottish Futures Trust has regarding housing matters.

Alex Neil: Staff at the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) have experience in both the private and public sector of delivering large investment projects. This experience is demonstrated by the SFT’S delivery of £111 million of net savings and benefits for the taxpayer during 2009-10, its first full year of operation. The National Housing Trust (NHT) initiative is a collaborative project and the SFT is acting as a central purchasing body for the NHT. The SFT has worked closely with Scottish Government and local authority housing officers, along with the private sector, in the NHT’s development.

Immigration

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding different immigration criteria for Scotland and what response it has received.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has responded to the UK Government’s consultation on how the mechanism for its proposed cap on immigration should operate. Our opposition to an annual limit on immigration is based on the potentially serious economic consequences for Scotland.

Immigration

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what research it has commissioned to explore the factors affecting the decisions of both immigrants and emigrants and what the outcome has been.

Fiona Hyslop: The Council of Economic Advisers recommended that the Scottish Government undertake more research to better understand migration and to explore the factors affecting the decisions of both immigrants and emigrants. The Scottish Government accepted this recommendation, and we have undertaken an in-house review of research and statistical evidence to update our understanding of migration and emigration .

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government concerning its review of the Department for International Development.

Fiona Hyslop: None.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether single outcome agreements have been signed off for all community planning partnerships for 2010-11.

John Swinney: Scottish Government, COSLA and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives jointly agreed that community planning partnerships would not be required to produce new single outcome agreements for 2010-11. The existing agreements are updated in response to changing circumstances and priorities.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive by what date the annual reports for the 2009-10 single outcome agreements will be submitted.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government and COSLA have asked local authorities to submit annual reports for their community planning partnerships by 30 September 2010.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an analysis of progress in implementing the 2009-10 single outcome agreements.

John Swinney: No decision on this has yet been taken.

NHS Services

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the future of services in the east end of Glasgow, such as Lightburn Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: In line with current guidance on informing, engaging and consulting people in developing health and community services, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde asked government officials earlier this year to confirm the NHS board’s assumption that their proposed changes to inpatient rehabilitation services in east Glasgow, including the possible closure of Lightburn Hospital, should be considered as major service change.

  This was confirmed and, accordingly, the NHS board initiated formal public consultation on 30 August 2010. This will run until 30 November 2010 and I would encourage all local stakeholders to play a full part in this process and to register their views with the board.

NHS Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many are employed by NHSScotland and what the annual cost was for 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Workforce data is published by National Services Scotland, Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland annually, as at 30 September. The number of staff employed by NHSScotland at 30 September 2009 was 168,994 headcount (whole-time equivalent figures are not available). Further information is available at:

  http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/servlet/FileBuffer?namedFile=Overall%20staff%202009_vt.xls&pContentDispositionType=attachment.

  The annual staffing costs for NHSScotland taken from the Annual Accounts for the period ending 31 March 2010 was £5.8 billion.

Ophthalmic Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the rate is of eye tests by each (a) NHS board and (b) local authority, broken down by deprivation category, in the last year for which statistics are available.

Shona Robison: Trend data showing the rate of NHS eye tests by NHS board at 31 March 2010 is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/4715.html .

  Information is not held centrally that would enable analysis by local authority or deprivation category.

Procurement

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what savings have been achieved by joint procurement in the (a) NHS, (b) education and (c) other sectors.

John Swinney: Significant collaborative procurement in Scotland is undertaken by a National and various Sectoral Centres of Expertise. This model was established on the recommendation of John McClelland CBE in his report Review of Public Procurement in Scotland . Under this model:

  (a) Procurement reform is well established in the health sector – a Business Improvement Programme commenced in 2003, with reform consolidated across the sector by the launch of a Centre for Procurement Expertise (National Procurement, NHS National Services Scotland) in 2005. This activity has delivered £172 million of savings to date and is on track to deliver a further £29 million in 2010-11.

  (b) The Higher and Further Education Sector Centre for Procurement Expertise (Advanced Purchasing for Colleges and Universities) was established in 2007-08 and has delivered over £15 million savings since then, and is on track to deliver over £10 million in 2010-11.

  (c) Collaborative procurement in other parts of the public sector has delivered savings of £94 million to date, and is on track to deliver a further £49 million in 2010-11.

Public Sector Pay

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken in relation to constraining public sector pay since May 2007.

John Swinney: Our consistent policy has been and remains to ensure that public sector pay settlements in Scotland are moderate, affordable, sustainable and demonstrate value for money.

  In our annual pay policies, we have progressively tightened pay parameters, and will continue to do so in respect of 2011-12.

  Ministers themselves have given a clear lead in pay restraint by freezing their pay in 2009-10 and 2010-11. We have also extended this approach to the highest paid people under the Scottish Government’s control, through freezing the basic pay of chief executives of non-departmental public bodies and of senior civil servants.

  We have consistently borne down on non-consolidated performance-related payments for senior public sector staff, reducing the number of chief executives with a contractual entitlement to such payments, and also reducing their scale.

  In addition, in 2009-10 and again this year, we have asked the chairs of non-departmental public bodies and public corporations to invite their chief executives to waive part or all of any bonus to which they may be entitled. A significant number of chief executives have chosen to respond positively to this invitation.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of competition it has achieved in relation to the Borders railway project procurement following the information day held on 20 January 2010.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36200 on 21 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Rail Services

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the roles are of the director of (a) rail delivery, (b) business improvement, (c) strategy and investment and (d) finance of Transport Scotland and which of the current postholders have direct experience in public transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The responsibilities of the Directors of Transport Scotland are set out in the agency’s website:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/about-us/organisational-structure).

  The Director of Rail Delivery held a number of posts with British Rail prior to privatisation.

Rail Services

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to increase cycling and rail integration.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Government and ScotRail will continue to liaise with relevant third parties on integration matters and pursue enhancements to facilities where funding permits.

  ScotRail has already fulfilled its commitments within the current Franchise in support of rail/cycle integration which included delivering secure cycle storage facilities at all rail stations in Scotland.

Renewable Energy

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what response it has received from the UK Government regarding its request for the release of funds from the Fossil Fuel Levy account.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-33906 on 11 June 2010. I mentioned the UK Government’s commitment to review the control and use of accumulated and future revenues from the Fossil Fuel Levy in Scotland. Our view remains that these funds will be vital to the development of renewables infrastructure, technologies and capacity around Scotland. The UK Government is well aware of that view. We await the outcome of the UK Government’s promised review, and look forward to a positive announcement.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Renewable Energy

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-35576 by Jim Mather on 1 September 2010, in what format it holds information regarding the output of different forms of electricity generation and what percentage of total output is represented by (a) coal, (b) nuclear, (c) renewables, (d) oil and (e) other sources, in each year since 2005.

Jim Mather: Table 1 shows a breakdown of electric generation by source in Scotland from 2005 to 2008. These data are published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change.

  Table 1: Electricity Generation, by Source, Scotland, 2005 to 2008

  

Fuel Source
Amount Generated (GWh)1
Percentage Generated1


2005
2006
2007
2008
2005
2006
2007
2008


Nuclear
 18,681 
 14,141 
 12,344 
 15,079 
37.9%
27.1%
25.7%
30.2%


Coal2
 12,158 
 17,560 
 13,877 
 11,767 
24.7%
33.6%
28.9%
23.6%


Gas
 9,367 
 10,212 
 10,925 
 11,440 
19.0%
19.5%
22.7%
22.9%


Oil
 1,903 
 2,189 
 1,505 
 1,544 
3.9%
4.2%
3.1%
3.1%


Hydro Pumped Storage3
 643 
 1,184 
 1,198 
 1,091 
1.3%
2.3%
2.5%
2.2%


Renewables4
 6,486 
 6,963 
 8,220 
 8,990 
13.2%
13.3%
17.1%
18.0%


Total
 49,237 
 52,250 
48,067 
49,911 
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%
100.0%



  Source: Department of Energy and Climate Change.

  Notes:

  1. Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  2. Coal includes a small quantity of non-renewable wastes.

  3. Pumped storage is not a renewable source of energy because it uses electricity produced by other means to create a store of hydrological power.

  4. Includes hydro natural flow, wind, wave, solar power and thermal renewables.

Road Signs

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) capital and (b) annual revenue costs are of the digital information signs on motorways and who is responsible for deciding what messages should be displayed.

Stewart Stevenson: There are various sizes of Variable Message Signs on the trunk road network and they cost in a range of approximately £135,000 to £190,000 and that includes all investigations, design, provision of power supply, construction of foundation and provision and erection of the VMS. Annual operating costs are approximately £1,800 and that includes power supply consumption, communications and maintenance costs.

  Traffic Scotland is a service provided by Transport Scotland who is responsible for the strategy for messages displayed. This strategy focuses on providing accurate, up to date information to road users and, when no such information is required, providing safety and public transport related messages. Further information is available at www.trafficscotland.org.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific awareness-raising campaigns it has undertaken or will undertake to increase understanding of the link between smoking and sight loss.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises that smoking can be a contributory factor to vision loss in some cases.

  To coincide with the introduction of the smoke-free legislation in 2006, which banned smoking in most work places, the Scottish Government supported RNIB Scotland to raise awareness around the health risks associated with smoking and loss of sight through a series of road shows across the country. RNIB Scotland continue to raise awareness of such issues through their website.

  We will, of course, continue to look for opportunities to raise awareness of the issue through social marketing activity undertaken by the Scottish Government and our key partners such as NHS Health Scotland, ASH Scotland and RNIB Scotland.

  In addition, work is also ongoing to increase the number of brief interventions and referrals for specialist smoking cessation support made by all health professionals. Included in this is the range of professions involved in the assessment and treatment of patients where there may be a risk of sight loss.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce the level of smoking by patients in mental health inpatient units.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is driving forward a programme of action to improve the physical and mental well being of those with mental health problems, including by encouraging and promoting smoke-free lifestyles.

  In March 2010, following extensive consultation with key stakeholders, we announced that new guidance would be prepared to help mental health residential service providers move towards establishing smoke-free environments. The aim of this guidance, which is being developed by NHS Health Scotland in consultation with key stakeholders and service users, will be to drive change at a pace which is acceptable to individual services, and, most importantly, to the service users themselves. The guidance will draw on best practice from residential mental health services which have already successfully implemented completely smoke-free policies. The guidance is expected to be published by the end of March 2011.

  It is recognised, of course, that a key component of achieving smoke-free services is to ensure that appropriate stop smoking support and advice is available. With this in mind the Scottish Government is continuing to invest in NHS stop smoking services, over £40 million in this spending review period to enable NHS boards to provide high-quality and accessible services across their areas.

  Moreover the Guide to Smoking Cessation in Scotland 2010 - Planning and Providing Specialist Smoking Cessation Services, published by NHS Health Scotland and ASH Scotland, includes guidance on how evidence-informed specialist stop smoking services should operate. This includes a recommendation that when working with people with mental health problems tailored smoking cessation advice should be provided and timely access to an intensive smoking cessation service, with fast tracking, should be offered where possible.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is monitoring progress in reducing the levels of smoking by patients in mental health inpatient units.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government recognises the many challenges faced by both service users and service providers in mental health establishments in relation to smoking levels. That is why detailed guidance is being developed by Health Scotland which will help to inform and encourage inpatient units to provide healthier non-smoking environments for patients. The guidance will help service providers to plan, prepare and put in place robust strategies to challenge the smoking culture that presently exists in many of these units.

  We do not currently have formal arrangements in place for national-level monitoring of smoking levels in mental health inpatient units but we are exploring the scope for updating a mapping report on smoking policies in residential psychiatric services which was undertaken by ASH Scotland’s tobacco and inequalities project. This may inform a baseline against which progress could be monitored towards achieving a reduction in smoking levels following the issuing of the guidance material.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funds were allocated to smoking cessation in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09, (d) 2009-10 and have been allocated in 2010-11, broken down by NHS board and also expressed as a percentage of each board’s budget.

Shona Robison: The following table contains a breakdown by NHS board of smoking cessation allocations.

  

 
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09


 
Smoking Cessation Allocation
% of Total RRL
Smoking Cessation Allocation
% of Total RRL
Smoking Cessation Allocation
% of Total RRL


 
£000
%
£000
%
£000
%


 Ayrshire and Arran
387
0.07
542
0.09
542
0.09


 Borders
118
0.07
170
0.10
170
0.09


 Dumfries and Galloway
160
0.06
231
0.09
231
0.09


 Fife
326
0.07
462
0.09
462
0.09


 Forth Valley
264
0.07
373
0.09
373
0.09


 Grampian
418
0.06
597
0.08
597
0.08


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2,096
0.11
2,569
0.13
2,569
0.13


 Highland
323
0.07
455
0.09
455
0.08


 Lanarkshire
936
0.12
1,147
0.14
1,147
0.13


 Lothian
1,048
0.10
1,311
0.12
1,311
0.12


 Orkney
35
0.10
53
0.14
53
0.13


 Shetland
41
0.10
59
0.14
59
0.13


 Tayside
790
0.13
949
0.15
949
0.14


 Western Isles
58
0.10
82
0.14
82
0.12


 
7,000
0.09
9,000
0.11
9,000
0.11



  

 
2009-10
2010-11


 
Smoking Cessation Allocation
% of Total RRL
Smoking Cessation Allocation
% of Total RRL


 
£000
%
£000
%


 Ayrshire and Arran
542
0.09
542
N/A


 Borders
170
0.09
170
N/A


 Dumfries and Galloway
231
0.09
231
N/A


 Fife
462
0.08
462
N/A


 Forth Valley
373
0.08
373
N/A


 Grampian
597
0.08
597
N/A


 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
2,569
0.12
2,569
N/A


 Highland
455
0.08
455
N/A


 Lanarkshire
1,147
0.14
1,147
N/A


 Lothian
1,311
0.12
1,311
N/A


 Orkney
53
0.12
53
N/A


 Shetland
59
0.13
59
N/A


 Tayside
949
0.14
949
N/A


 Western Isles
82
0.12
82
N/A


 
9,000
0.11
9,000
N/A



  Notes:

  1. Additional to the funding outlined above £2 million per annum is contained in NHS board baselines from the smoking kills and health improvement fund.

  2. In addition a smoking cessation service was introduced as part of the community pharmacy contract at end August 2008. The following figures represent payments to community pharmacies providing a smoking cessation service.

  2008-09: September 2008 – March 2009

  (part year service began end of August 2008) = £3,461,230*

  2009-10 = £3,746,096

  2010-11 = two months fees for April and May 2010 = £677,523. It is estimated that the costs for the full year will be similar to 2009-10.

  *The 2008-09 figure includes one-off readiness and administration payments to each pharmacy providing a smoking cessation service to cover set-up and training costs.

  Total revenue resource limit (RRL) figures are not available for 2010-11 as in-year board allocations have yet to be confirmed for all programmes. To maintain consistency with prior year figures, smoking cessation funding as a % of total RRL has not been calculated for 2010-11.

  All figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the rates of smoking among Bangladeshi and Pakistani men living in Scotland are higher than for men in other black and minority ethnic communities and the Scottish average for men, allowing for deprivation, and, if so, what specific steps it is taking to support these men in their attempts to stop smoking.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is investing heavily in NHS stop smoking services, over £40 million in this spending period, to enable NHS boards to provide high-quality and accessible services to all smokers across their areas.

  There is limited national Scottish evidence on differences in health risk behaviours for ethnic minority groups - the respective populations are quite small – for example, the Pakistani population being around 0.63% and the Bangladeshi population 0.04% of the Scottish population at the 2001 census. However, the Scottish Executive report High Level Summary of Equality Statistics: Key Trends for Scotland 2006 noted that smoking prevalence was lower among minority ethnic groups, as a whole than among white ethnic groups, although percentages were based on small sample sizes.

  In addition, the Dimensions of Diversity report published by the Scottish Public Health Observatory in January 2010, notes that a series of studies in Glasgow has found that among members of ethnic minority groups, with the exception of Pakistani men, smoking rates are much lower than among the general population, with particularly low rates among ethnic minority women (4 to 5%). Other studies have shown a high prevalence of use of other tobacco products, particularly in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities. The use of certain types of non-smoked and chewing tobacco may be more widespread than in the general population.

  There has been targeted support for minority ethnic communities through local tobacco alliances and national pilot smoking cessation projects under the Partnership Action on Tobacco and Health (PATH) initiative, which is funded by the Scottish Government. PATH, NHS Lothian and the Minority Health Inclusion Project have produced a DVD resource for discussing the use of various tobacco products with those in minority ethnic groups. The resource was presented to the Ministerial Working Group on Tobacco Control in May 2010 and a Scottish Government official has since met with the stakeholder organisations to explore how to maximise the impact of this resource.

  The Guide to Smoking Cessation in Scotland 2010 – Planning and Providing specialist smoking cessation services, published by NHS Health Scotland and ASH Scotland, includes guidance on how evidence-informed specialist stop smoking services should operate. This includes recommendations for working with target groups, including minority ethnic groups, and a recommendation to provide services in the language chosen by clients, wherever possible. The national telephone helpline smoke line has the Language Line translation facility available.

Smoking

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to tackle smoking in deprived areas and whether it would consider setting targets to reduce prevalence in communities where there is deprivation.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is investing heavily in evidence-informed NHS stop smoking services, over £40 million in the current spending review period, to enable NHS boards to deliver high quality, accessible services across their population. This includes substantial stop smoking support provided in the heart of communities, including the most deprived areas, via the smoking cessation element of the national public health service contract with community pharmacies, introduced in 2008.

  In 2009, 14,431 successful one month quits were recorded in the two most deprived "within board" Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintiles, equating to 54.5% of all successful quits recorded in NHS stop smoking services. The Scottish Government is considering how to build upon this as part of the work which is currently ongoing to review and update NHS Scotland HEAT targets.

Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of funds for capital spending in transport comes from each of the available funding services.

Stewart Stevenson: The funding source for each project is assessed individually based on the size and type of project, the suitability for the various forms of funding and the availability of funds.

Transport Scotland

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what vacant posts at Transport Scotland have been left unfilled in the last 12 months as part of the cost-saving exercise.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked David Middleton, Chief Executive of Transport Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Transport Scotland follows the resourcing policies of the Scottish Government and posts in the agency are created and removed to reflect changing business needs. From 1 April 2010 stricter controls on replacing leavers were introduced centrally and these changes have been implemented in Transport Scotland. As a cost saving measure, all unfilled posts have been removed from our staffing profile.